The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-13

of his little brother would prove balm for
his woes But Milton was not at home.
Mrs NORRIS and Pauline had called at the
house an hour before, Aunt Rachel informed
him, and taken the boy riding with them.
Virgil seated himself at the window and,
resting his cheek upon the palm of his hand,
gaZed vacantly out
Old Rachel stood near, her dark eyes
fixed fondlv upon the boy; and, after sew
eral minutes silence said:
"You look mighty pale and worried,
honey"
do I, mammyp' said Virgil, mechani-
cally.
Yes, that you d." answered the old
negreSs. II tell you what dis here sottin'
up tell and O'clock in de mornin' toged-
der wild grebin' arter Miss Mary am tellin'
like smoke upon You. Deed it is, honey.
If you dol't tase better keer o. yourself
you'll hab long spell of sickness-typhoid
or brain fever. Now, you just mind what
Old nanny says"
And with this admonition, accompanied
by solemn roll of her eyes, the old woman
turned to leave the room; but before she had
reached the door she stopped and said:
Mars Virgil, thar's been young gem
men here to see you"
"a young gentleman!" said Virgil, turn
ing quickly toward the negreSs did he
leave his Names"
mo, sir; but Use mos sure he was Miss
PauGne's cousin--that young gemmin you
knoV what you write to at college. He
looked mighty like Miss Pauline--got her
very blue ewes and her sqme sweet face"
1T was Charlie, l presume" said Virgil
The session closed yesterday, aid he was
expected home to-day. would like so
much to see him. Why didn't he remain
till l came homeW
HE seemed mighty restless and said he
would walk around till he thought it was
time for you to come"
AT this moment the door-bell rang.
''Thar he is now" said the old woman,
and she star ed to answer the summons
when Virgil told her he would go.
The thought of meeting Charlie brought
an expression of pleasure to Virgils face,
and, hurrying to the door, he found the visi-
tor, as he had supposed, to be Charlie. There
was warm pressure of hands between the
boys, after which they repaired to the par
lOr.
Virgil, allow me to sympathize with
you in your last and greatest affection"
said Charlie, before taking a seat. Il felt
very, very sad when Pauline and aunt
Bertha informed me of your mother
death. My dear friend, you have had
enough trouble in the last year to crush ou'
all hope and happiness from your life; but
still l trust that your faith in God is not
shaken. Oh Virgil, since / wrote to you
laSt God has forgiven all my sins through
the merits of His blessed Son, and filled my
soul with peace l never felt before. ]
cannot describe it, 1t is so sweet! Upon
the world, with all its pomps and allure
ments, have tn ned my back, and toward
the New Jerusale n have set my face, and,
by the grace of God, | near to press on
ward until l stand, saved and crowned,
within her everlasting gates"
As he thus stood, his fair, bovish face
illumined with the peace of God, Charlie
looked really beautiful And so thought
Virgil, as he grasped his friends hand and
exclaimed with unusual warmth:
''Your words infuse strength and comfort
into my soul, Charlie. am glad to lear
you have become a Christian. A vein of
sadness has run through all your letters t.
me. Into the nature of that sadness l have
no right to inquire: but whatever it may
be, you have acted nobly and wisely in asking
Christ to help you bear your cross. The
noble and strong-ninded person, in time Of
trouble looks to God, who fills his weary
soul with visions of the 81 rious and eterna
rest beyond; the weak-minded person, OF
the cont airy. seeks to drown his sorrow in
the whirlpool of gayety and dissipation.
and failing in this, puts an end to his mis-
his immortal spirit, which might have been
redeemed and beautified by divine grace
and made fit to dwell forever in the king
dom of God"
As Virgil ceased speaking, he handed
Charlie a seat, after which he sat down him
self. Charlie, in his old impulsive way
wound his arm around our hero's neck, and,
after a pause, said:
1T has for a long time been the purpose
ell = t.
was the desire Of my father that | should
do so; but, with my conversion, comes q
longing to become minister of the gospel.
Oh, Virgil, this life is so short, and how
could | spend it better than by toiling il tn
Masters vineyard! Don't think me ia
natic. My conversion is not the result OF
any camp-meeting excitement, but of the
quiet, effectual working of God upon my
heart"
II do not think you fanatic, Charlie
replied Virgil. II believe that you con
version is real-the work of God-and also
that it Is He who has created within your
breast the desire to become a minister. BY
all means, study for the ministry. You
shall have my prayers. May God bless you.
Charlie, and"
he entrance of Milton at this iuncture
cut short Virgil's sentence.
Charlie, this is my brother" said our
hero. You have seen him before, have
you notW
Charlie did not reply at once He looked
at Milton in a puzzled manner Surely the
pale, wasted child standing before him wa
not the same rosy. dimpled-cheek lad whom
he had seen with Virgil at church the first
Sunday in the New Year. Virgil OWNED
his friends thoughts and said sadly:
milton is not well, Charlie When he
came to Richmond six months ago be
weighed s. pounds, and now he weighs
only 10 pounds. But he always loses
flesh in warm weather, and so | hope the
return of autumn will bring back the co.or
to his cheeks and the flesh to his body"
ooh, yes" said Charlie, endeavoring to
comfort his friend He will De as plump
as a squirrel when frost alls. Won't you,
Milton2 Who gave you that beautiful mag
noliaP'
Miss Pauline. She is my sweetheart,
YOU know" replied the little fellow, me
gnawing the stem of the huge
flower.
"She isr' said Charlie, smiling. ooh,
yes; she speaks frequently in her letters of
her little Romeo-her little knight-as she
calls you. But where did you see Miss
Pauline, Milton"
ave been out riding with her and Mrs.
Morfiss. We've been away up the Grove
road and all over Hollywood. There's
where my mamma is buried, you know
and the boys lips quivered.
Here the conversation turned upon Roger
Penn. For long time Virgil and Cha. lie
alked of their deceased friend, recalling in
1uslSv tones the kind words and noble deeds